“The
world would be outraged if four airliners were seized and held hostage with
innocent souls onboard. Regrettably,
there does not seem to be the same response or concern for the four commercial
vessels and their crews being held hostage,” states an open letter sent by 16
shipping organisations last week to the United Nations secretary-general,
Antonio Guterres.
Eleven
days ago, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy hijacked a containership
belonging to an affiliate of Israeli billionaire Eyal Ofer’s Zodiac Maritime
and operated by Mediterranean Shipping Co (MSC) near the Strait of Hormuz. The 15,000 teu MSC Aries has since been taken to Iranian waters
where it is anchored near three other ships Iran has seized in recent months.
Meanwhile,
an NYK-operated car carrier, the Galaxy Leader (pictured), remains in Yemeni
waters, having been hijacked six months ago by the Houthis, while off the Horn
of Africa Somali pirates have resumed their ransom tactics, abducting two ships
in recent months.
“Innocent seafarers have been killed,
seafarers are being held hostage. This would be unacceptable on land, and it is
unacceptable at sea,” the letter to the UN boss warned, demanding the UN
body create an enhanced coordinated military presence, missions and patrols in
the region and that all efforts possible are brought to bear to release the
many seafarers currently being held hostage in the Middle East.